Summary:
The Springdale School District contains four middle schools serving grades 6 and 7: Hellstern Middle School, Helen Tyson Middle School, Sonora Middle School, and J. O. Kelly Middle School. The district overall ranks in the 45th percentile in Arkansas, but this average masks a dramatic split between one standout school and three that struggle significantly.
Hellstern Middle School is the clear top performer, earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger for three consecutive years and ranking in the top 10% of all Arkansas middle schools (22nd out of 327). In contrast, the other three schools—Helen Tyson, Sonora, and J. O. Kelly—all rank in the bottom 40% of the state, consistently receiving only 1 or 2 stars. Hellstern is also the largest school (849 students) and has the highest student-teacher ratio (16.3), yet its students achieve test scores 20-40 percentage points higher than their peers in every subject. Notably, Hellstern spends the least per student ($12,076), while the lower-performing schools spend more ($13,483 to $14,804), showing that higher spending does not guarantee better results.
The most critical factor appears to be socioeconomic status: Hellstern has the lowest percentage of students eligible for free or reduced lunch (43.46%), while J. O. Kelly Middle School has the highest (94.12%) and the lowest test scores—only 22.2% proficient in Science versus the state average of 44%. J. O. Kelly has been in the bottom 15% of state rankings for three years and requires the most targeted support. For parents, this means Hellstern is a high-performing, 5-star option, while the other three schools face significant challenges that the district must address to improve overall outcomes.
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